NBA notebook: Monroe signs with Celtics; Bulls trade Mirotic to Pelicans

UNB! Sports Staff Report

Greg Monroe will sign a one-year, $5 million deal with the Bostpn Celtics, league sources tell ESPN.

The New Orleans Pelicans could only offer Monroe $2.2 million. They also offered Monroe the chance to be the starting center, but Monroe will join the Celtics with fewer assurances on playing time.

Bulls trade Mirotic to Pelicans

According to ESPN, the Chicago Bulls traded Nikola Mirotic to the Pelicans on Thursday.

New Orleans is planning to guarantee the $12.5M salary of Mirotic in the 2018-19 season.

In return, the Bulls acquire Omer Asik, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson, and a 2018 first-rounder with "minima" protections.

Sources also told ESPN that the Bulls may waive Allen. They may keep Nelson, according to report after a previous one that said the Bulls wouldn't. 

Markkanen, Dunn help Bulls outlast Knicks 122-119 in 2 OTs

By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lauri Markkanen had knocked down eight 3-pointers and almost knocked out his coach with a soaring slam, but Kris Dunn couldn't get anything to fall.

He kept shooting, and eventually hit the shot that put the Bulls on top for good.

Markkanen scored a season-high 33 points, Dunn shook off a nightmarish shooting night to make the tiebreaking basket in the second overtime, and Chicago beat the New York Knicks 122-119 on Wednesday night.

"It was a hard-fought win," Markkanen said. "We could have ended it a little bit earlier, but (that's) just how we won."

Dunn had missed 14 of his first 17 shots before banking in a runner with just under a minute left in the second extra period and Markkanen finished it off by making two free throws with 6.8 seconds remaining.

The rookie added 10 rebounds.

"For Lauri to come in on the big stage, the World's Most Famous Arena, and hit eight 3s and play against arguably the best power forward in the league in Porzingis, play 46 minutes and hit those big free throws late, just tells you everything you need to know," coach Fred Hoiberg said.

Robin Lopez and Denzel Valentine each scored 20 points for the Bulls in their third narrow victory over the Knicks this season. Markkanen was 8 of 15 behind the arc though his highlight play was at the rim, when he threw down a dunk over Knicks center Enes Kanter .

"I damn near passed out when he dunked that one," Hoiberg said.

"When he took that full court and just cocked it back, I was speechless. I got chills. It was crazy."

Michael Beasley 26 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for the Knicks, who lost for the eighth time in 10 games. Kristaps Porzingis finished with 24 points, including a dunk at the buzzer to force the second OT.

`We had opportunities. We didn't get stops at crucial times," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said.

Lopez then had the first two baskets of the second OT, and after the Knicks got the next two, Dunn made his shot to make it 118-116. He'd had plenty of easier looks that didn't fall, but his teammates and coaches told him to keep shooting.

"The mid-range, that's my shot, and I kept getting to my spots," Dunn said. "I liked the shot and it wasn't falling, and the fact that the sky floater goes in is just like, all right, if that's going to go in, then we're going to have to accept it."

Jarrett Jack had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first triple-double in six years, but threw away a pass after coming up with a steal with the Knicks down two late in the second OT.

TIP-INS

Bulls: Nikola Mirotic missed his second straight game with an illness. ... Chicago ended a four-game losing streak in New York.

Knicks: Beasley was back after missing a game with a sprained left ankle. ... The Knicks unveiled their City Edition alternate uniform, which is a tribute to firefighters and their families . The uniform they will debut against Brooklyn on Jan. 30 is dark blue in a nod to the firefighters' dress uniforms, and the shorts feature the logo of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

ZACH'S ALMOST BACK

Zach LaVine is scheduled to make his Bulls debut Saturday against Detroit after recovering from left ACL surgery. LaVine, acquired in the trade for Jimmy Butler, hoped to play in this game, but neither the Bulls nor their G League affiliate had enough practice days between games to get him ready enough.

"For him to come play in this game, really he would have only had one practice in the last five days," Hoiberg said.

LaVine will practice with the Bulls on Thursday and Friday. Hoiberg said he has been working with the first and second unit.

HARDAWAY'S HEALTH

Tim Hardaway Jr. took part in a full practice this week and will do so again Thursday as he nears his return from a stress injury to his lower left leg. Hardaway last played Nov. 29 and Hornacek said he would slowly increase his workload when he returns to game action - though Hornacek wasn't sure when that would be.

"Tim's itching to go. That's his nature, his mentality," Hornacek said. "But we do have to listen to doctors. We've got to be careful with it and that's why he's been going through this gradual buildup."

MOMS' NIGHT OUT

A number of Bulls players had their mothers watching from the Madison Square Garden seats. The organization held its first "mom's trip" and hosted 11 moms seated together in section 117.

UP NEXT

Bulls: Host Detroit on Saturday.

Knicks: Visit Minnesota on Friday.

Wade helps Cavs top Bulls for win 12th straight

CHICAGO -- Dwyane Wade finds himself in a new role with the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, but when the veteran guard finds the offensive rhythm he has been in of late, he still possesses the ability to take over a game.

With all of the talent Wade has around him, when he is rolling, so are the Cavaliers.

Wade and Kevin Love each scored 24 points, and LeBron James finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Cavaliers won their 12th straight game, a 113-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

The Cavaliers (17-7) can tie a franchise record for consecutive victories with a win Wednesday against Sacramento.

At 35, Wade is a leading early candidate for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year following a season playing for his hometown Bulls. In his first visit back to Chicago with his new team, Wade insisted he had no agenda against his former team.

"I'm just in a good groove and I'm just taking my opportunities as they come," Wade said.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said Wade played in familiar surroundings Monday with an extra dose of energy.

"He wanted to play well," Lue said. "Coming back home, he's from Chicago, his family's here, his friends are here, he wanted to play well. And he did. He gave us a great boost."

Cleveland, which also got 14 points from Jeff Green, built a 21-point lead just two minutes into the second half before a Love 3-pointer forced Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg to call a timeout.

Cleveland outscored the Bulls 13-5 to open the third quarter behind Love, who scored 10 points in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the second half. Love sparked the Cavaliers in the third quarter before James, who didn't attempt a shot in the third quarter, again picked up in the final 12 minutes when he scored eight points as Cleveland won going away.

"Just a total team effort," Lue said. "Kevin (Love) got going in the third quarter, (Wade) was great (and) LeBron got going in the fourth quarter. Just a total team effort. Guys are just playing well right now.

The Bulls, who have lost nine straight points, started strong and led by as many as six points in the game's opening minutes. But once Wade began to score and Love and James got rolling, Chicago couldn't keep pace.

Kris Dunn scored 15 points to lead Chicago (3-19), which also got 14 points from Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday. Lauri Markkanen finished with 13 points to go along with 10 from Bobby Portis.

As has become a trend for the young Bulls, Chicago struggled to play through adversity once the Cavaliers started rolling.

"We had about a five-minute stretch in the first half when we just lost our minds," Hoiberg said. "It's those stretches that we have to find a way to eliminate. When we're not making shots, we have to continue to guard."

The Cavaliers winning streak came after a rocky start to the season when, at one point, Cleveland lost four straight and six of eight games. But the Cavaliers -- who are still playing without guards Isaiah Thomas and Iman Shumpert along with forward Tristan Thompson -- have not lost since Nov. 9.

Despite the adjustments and various lineups that Lue has had to employ, the Cavaliers are finding ways to remain successful.

"We just (putting together) consistent efforts over a 48-minute span," Love said. "Early on, we put together really good quarters, but hadn't put together a full game of really good sustained efforts. I think that's showing right now."

The Cavs will look to keep it rolling on Wednesday.

"We're just in a good groove," James said. "And when you're in a good groove, you want to try to continue that."

NOTES: Cavaliers G Derrick Rose rejoined the team Monday and will continue to rehab his injured left ankle in Cleveland. Coach Tyronn Lue said he expected Rose to miss a couple more weeks after the former Chicago Bulls star left the Cavaliers on Nov. 22 to think about his playing future after sustaining the ankle injury on Nov. 9. "I know he's frustrated but like I said, I'm glad he's in a good place now," Lue told reporters Monday morning. ... F/C Channing Frye played after being initially listed as questionable with a dislocated finger. ... Bulls F Nikola Mirotic will practice Tuesday before it is determined whether he will travel with for Chicago's road games this week against Indiana and Charlotte. Mirotic said this weekend that he hopes to return this week after being out with facial fractures. ... F Bobby Portis returned after missing one game with an arm contusion.

James scores 34 as point guard, leads Cavaliers over Bulls

Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James scored 34 points in a rare start at point guard and the Cleveland Cavaliers, using another early season lineup, awakened after a sluggish first half and beat the Chicago Bulls 119-112 on Tuesday night.

Although he often handles the ball and runs Cleveland’s offense, James had not officially been listed as a guard since 2012 with Miami. He added 13 assists, including a no-look, behind-the-back dish to Jae Crowder for a 3-pointer during Cleveland’s 15-3 spurt in the third quarter.

Kevin Love had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade, who asked Cavs coach Tyronn Lue to take him out of the starting lineup, came off the bench and added 11 points.

Justin Holiday scored 25 and rookie Lauri Markkanen 19 for Chicago, which made a season-high 17 3-pointers. The 7-foot Markkanen became the first player in NBA history to make 10 3-pointers in his first three career games.

CELTICS 110, KNICKS 89

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, Jayson Tatum added 22 and Boston beat New York.

Kyrie Irving added 20 points and seven assists. Al Horford finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

After dropping their first two games to open the season, the Celtics have won two straight. The Knicks remain winless through their first three games.

Enes Kanter led New York with 16 points and 19 rebounds. But he got most of them in a first half in as his team struggled mightily from the field. The Knicks scored the first basket of the night, but never led again. They shot just 42 percent and went 1 of 12 from the 3-point line.

PACERS 130, TIMBERWOLVES 107

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Oladipo scored 28 points and Cory Joseph added 21 to lead hot-shooting Indiana past Minnesota.

Darren Collison had 15 points and 16 assists, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points and Domantas Sabonis had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who shot 67 percent from the floor.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves, who came out flat after a thrilling last-second win at Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Minnesota was missing forward Jimmy Butler, who sat out with an upper respiratory infection. Shabazz Muhammad took Butler’s spot in the starting lineup, and he contributed to Minnesota’s slow start, going 1-for-5 from the floor and missing two free throws in the first quarter.

MAGIC 125, NETS 121

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Gordon scored a career-high 41 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 35 seconds remaining, and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Orlando over Brooklyn.

Evan Fournier added 28 points in game that went back and forth late in the fourth quarter. He finished the scoring with two free throws with 15.5 seconds to play.

D’Angelo Russell scored 27 points for the Nets, while DeMarre Carroll had 19 and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 18.

TRAIL BLAZERS 103, PELICANS 93

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 23 points and Portland extended its NBA-record winning streak in home openers to 17 games with a 103-93 victory over New Orleans.

Damian Lillard and Evan Turner each added 13 points for Portland, which is off to a 3-1 start for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

DeMarcus Cousins had 39 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double to start the season. The Pelicans were hurt when Anthony Davis departed with a left knee injury in the first quarter.

CLIPPERS 102, JAZZ 84

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin scored 22 points, Patrick Beverley added 19 and unbeaten Los Angeles beat Utah.

All five starters for the Clippers (3-0) finished in double figures. Austin Rivers had 16 points, Danilo Gallinari 14 and DeAndre Jordan added 11 points and 18 rebounds.

Rookie Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz (2-2) with 19 points, with Rudy Gobert adding 12 points and seven bounds. Thabo Sefolosha finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

F-C Felicio re-signs with Bulls

The Chicago Bulls re-signed forward-center Cristiano Felicio, the team announced Thursday.

The move had been reported several days ago, but the team has now made it official.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but multiple media outlets reported the deal is for four years and worth $32 million.

In his two seasons in Chicago, Felicio averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the field.

Last season, he averaged 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game with a field goal percentage of .57.9.

The Brazilian played in all six of the Bulls' postseason games against the Celtics, and averaged 3.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.

Timberwolves acquire All-Star Butler from Bulls

Jimmy Butler is being reunited with Tom Thibodeau.

Moments before the Los Angeles Lakers made Lonzo Ball the second pick of Thursday's NBA draft, multiple outlets reported Butler was going to be dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the trade later in the evening.

Butler was dealt for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the rights to Lauri Markkanen. Also going to Minnesota are the rights to Justin Patton, who was picked at No. 16 by the Bulls.

Butler was the 30th overall pick by the Bulls in 2011 out of Marquette. He averaged a career-high 23.9 points last season as the Bulls were 41-41 and qualified for the postseason as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Thibodeau coached Butler from 2011 to 2015 before being fired. He joined the Timberwolves last season with the dual title of coach and head of basketball operations.

Last season, the teams worked on a potential deal for Butler, but talks collapsed based on the belief that Chicago's demands were too high. Instead, the Bulls dealt Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks for Robin Lopez and hoped to regain some of the success they experienced in Thibodeau's tenure.

By obtaining Butler, the Timberwolves are taking on the final three seasons of the $95 million deal he signed after the 2014-15 season. They had approximately $24 million available on their salary cap after waiving injured center Nikola Pekovic on Tuesday.

LaVine is coming off a torn ACL but was showing steady improvement. Before getting hurt, LaVine shot 46 percent and averaged a career-high 18.9 points and shooting a career-best 45.9 percent.

Since entering the league as Minnesota's first-round pick from UCLA in 2014, LaVine has averaged 13.7 points per game and shot 44.5 percent.

Dunn was Minnesota's first-round pick last season and averaged 3.8 points on 37.7 percent shooting in 78 games.

Markanen averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his only season at Arizona. The 7-footer became the highest-ever draft pick from Finland.

Patton averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. The 7-footer shot 57.3 percent and was the Big East freshman of the year.

Bulls G Valentine undergoes ankle surgery

(TSX / STATS) -- Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, according to multiple reports.

Valentine, who dealt with two separate ankle injuries in his rookie season, had the surgical procedure to "clean up" the area of the ankle, ESPN reported.

Valentine, 23, posted a picture on Instagram of him wearing a walking boot on Tuesday. After his rehab, he is expected to be ready to play for the Bulls in the Vegas Summer League in July.

The 6-foot-6, 212-pound Valentine, drafted with the No. 14 overall pick last year out of Michigan State, averaged 5.1 points in 57 regular-season games. He played a total of 22 minutes in Chicago's first-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics.

Bradley scores 23, Celtics eliminate Bulls 105-83

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) – The Boston Celtics kept reminding each other not to let up as they closed in on a lopsided victory and a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

No need to worry about that.

Avery Bradley scored 23 points, and the hot-shooting Celtics pounded the Chicago Bulls 105-83 to win their first-round series 4-2 on Friday night.

The top-seeded Celtics simply torched Chicago to finish off a tougher-than-anticipated series and advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Boston regrouped after dropping the first two games at home and will meet Washington in the Eastern semifinals. Game 1 is Sunday.

"Once we started to get the game at hand and in control, we all just kept repeating to stay focused, to keep it going, to keep pushing," Al Horford said. "We didn't want to give them any life. We were as focused and we were enjoying the moment."

Bradley finished one point shy of a playoff career high he set in Game 5. He nailed three 3-pointers and the Celtics hit 16 of 39 from long range.

Gerald Green scored 16 in his fourth straight start and Isaiah Thomas had 12 before heading home to Washington state for his sister Chyna's funeral on Saturday. Her death in a car accident the day before the playoff opener dealt a blow to the Celtics. But Boston rallied around its star player and regrouped when it looked like the series might slip from reach.

"Bigger things than basketball happen and that takes precedent," coach Brad Stevens said. "I was really proud of our guys, how they treated each other and how they stuck together. Nobody pointed fingers and we're a great support network for one another, especially Isaiah. I think they appreciated being counted out."

Jimmy Butler led Chicago with 23 points. But the Bulls never really found their rhythm over the final four games with point guard Rajon Rondo sidelined by a broken right thumb.

Dwyane Wade shot just 1 of 10 in a two-point effort that could be his final appearance for the Bulls. He has a $23.8 million option on the two-year deal he signed last summer to leave Miami and come home to Chicago.

"The big thing about it is we got off to poor starts in pretty much every game after the first two," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "But we found a way to bounce back and make it close."

Not this time.

The Celtics set the tone by hitting 3s on their first three possessions on the way to a 13-point halftime lead. They buried Chicago in the third, outscoring the Bulls 34-18. Things got so lopsided that Thomas gathered his teammates near the baseline late in the quarter and screamed: "That's a wrap for these (expletives)!"

"We came out and moved the ball around, we got open looks and they were going down for us," Bradley said. "It felt good to be playing Celtic basketball again. We were all smiling and having fun and that's how it's supposed to be."

TIP-INS

Celtics: The Celtics are 5-0 in playoff series against the Bulls. ... Boston made 76 3-pointers in the series while Chicago hit 42.

Bulls: The Bulls had 15 turnovers and 13 assists. ... Hoiberg said there is no structural damage in Butler's right knee. He also had this response when asked what soreness means: "Uh, that it hurts." ... New Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky, the No. 2 pick in the draft, got a rude welcome from the Chicago crowd. He was booed when he was shown on the videoboard in the third quarter.

QUOTABLE

Butler, whose name has come up in trade rumors, on his future with the Bulls: "I don't know. Go home and grab some dinner and talk about it with it my guys. Talk to them tomorrow and into two weeks."

SUPPORTING THOMAS

Bradley thought about attending Chyna Thomas' funeral. That won't happen with a game on Sunday, but his family will be there.

Bradley grew up near Thomas and they've known each other since they were youngsters.

"We're family," Bradley said. "Tacoma's small. We all know each other. I know my family will be there for him."

Celtics beat Bulls 108-97, take 3-2 lead in series

Associated Press

BOSTON -- The Celtics and Bulls found another thing to argue about after Game 5 of their spirited first-round playoff series:

Was Avery Bradley more impressive on offense, or on defense?

"Everyone knows he's a good defender. Tonight, he got his offensive game going," Chicago's Dwyane Wade said after Bradley scored 24 points to lead Boston to a 108-97 victory and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"You expect him to do what he does defensively, but we gave up 24 points to him tonight. He hurt us offensively tonight more than anything."

Isaiah Thomas also scored 24 for the Celtics, the top seed in the East. After the road team won each of the first four games, the Celtics won at home in Game 5 to earn a chance to eliminate the Bulls on Friday night in Chicago. A Bulls victory would force the series back to Boston for a decisive Game 7 on Sunday.

Al Horford had 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Celtics. Bradley's 24 points were a career playoff high, but after watching him hold Bulls star Jimmy Butler to 14 points -- and just one foul shot -- Celtics coach Brad Stevens praised Bradley's defense.

"Jimmy Butler's a hard guy to guard. Dwyane Wade's a hard guy to guard. You're not going to stop those guys, but you just try to make it as hard as possible," Stevens said. "Avery ... has done a really good job."

Butler, who shot 23 free throws in Game 4 and made 19, was 0 for 1 on Wednesday.

"I was trying to eliminate letting Jimmy Butler get to the free throw line. That was my goal this game, and I feel like I did it," Bradley said.

Wade had 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. But Wade and Robin Lopez were called for technical fouls 32 seconds apart with just under five minutes left, helping the Celtics to a 20-5 run that turned an 84-84 game into a 15-point Boston lead.

The Bulls cut it to nine before Horford got loose for a dunk, Wade missed a 3-pointer and then Horford fed Jae Crowder for a layup that made it 108-95 with 99 seconds to play.

Despite the technical fouls, there was little of the tension that characterized Game 4, when Butler and Marcus Smart got in each other's face on the court and continued the criticism in their postgame comments.

The Celtics started slowly on their home court, making just one of their first nine shots to fall behind 12-4. Boston missed its first eight 3-point attempts before making three in a row at the end of the first quarter.

TIP-INS

Bulls: Before winning the first two games of the series, Chicago had only won one playoff game in Boston ever -- Game 1 of the 2009 first round. ... Butler brought the ball down with 6.2 seconds left in the third quarter and hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bulls an 81-79 lead. ... The Bulls had 16 turnovers that led to 23 Boston points. The Celtics only had six turnovers, leading to four Bulls points.

Celtics: There were at least nine members of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the crowd, and a handful of players from the Boston Bruins as well. ... Thomas missed his first four shots and didn't make a basket until a second-chance 3-pointer with 42 seconds left in the first half. ... Gerald Green made his third start, but he played less than 13 minutes and finished with two points after scoring 18 with seven rebounds in Game 4.

RONDO

Rajon Rondo, who was the point guard on the 2008 Celtics team that won the franchise's record 17th NBA title, did not play for the third straight game because of the broken thumb and strained ligament in his right wrist. He was on the court handling a basketball with his left hand before the game, then sat on the Bulls bench in a suit -- this one with sleeves -- and cheered on his teammates.

The Bulls fell to 0-3 without him in the series, with Wade largely taking over as point guard in Game 5.

CARRY ON

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg made waves after Game 4 when he questioned whether Thomas was getting away with carrying the ball when he dribbled.

Thomas took exception with the suggestion, saying it was the way he'd dribbled his entire career and was no different than the style of other All-Stars such as LeBron James and Rondo.

The final question to Hoiberg Wednesday was whether he'd had spotted any illegal dribbles from Thomas in the Game 5 loss.

"No," he said, before walking out.

Thomas scores 33, Celtics beat Bulls 104-95 to tie series

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) -- Isaiah Thomas is playing through tears after the death of his sister, drawing strength from the rest of the Boston Celtics.

They found another gear in Chicago.

Thomas scored 33 points, and the Celtics beat the Bulls 104-95 on Sunday to tie their first-round playoff series at 2-all.

"Mentally and emotionally, I'm not here so I just feed off what the guys give me," Thomas said. "They give me a lot of confidence. I can't do it without those guys. They believe in me and being here is what makes me feel sane and somewhat normal through these tough times."

Thomas' life changed just over a week ago when his younger sister Chyna was killed in a one-car crash in their home state of Washington. He spent time with his family in Tacoma between games in Boston and Chicago.

With Game 4 at a critical juncture, the All-Star guard provided a huge lift for a team that has been supporting him in the toughest of times.

Thomas keyed a third-quarter run after the Bulls wiped out a 20-point deficit and briefly went ahead, helping top-seeded Boston return the favor in Chicago after dropping the first two games at home.

Gerald Green made four 3-pointers on his way to 18 points. Al Horford added 15 points and 12 rebounds, and the Celtics pulled even in a series that was in danger of becoming a rout. Game 5 is Wednesday in Boston.

Jimmy Butler carried the Bulls with 33 points and nine assists. Nikola Mirotic and seldom-used Isaiah Canaan each scored 13 points, but Dwyane Wade finished with just 11.

Canaan made his first appearance since April 10, with Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg searching for help at point guard with Rajon Rondo missing his second straight game because of a broken right thumb.

"Just like last game, we were using a lot of energy just to come back," Wade said. "Better starts here at home could've did us a little justice. I thought they did a great job of sticking with their game plan, making tough shots offensively."

The Celtics led by 20 in the second quarter and were still up 10 in the third when Chicago scored 12 straight. The Bulls went ahead 65-63 on Robin Lopez's hook shot with 4:35 left in the quarter.

Thomas answered with back-to-back layups and scored 10 points in a 12-0 run that gave the Celtics a 75-65 lead, and they withstood a push by the Bulls early in the fourth.

CARRY ON

Hoiberg praised Thomas as an "unbelievable competitor" and a "warrior." But he also insisted the guard is getting away with carrying the ball.

"When you're allowed to discontinue your dribble on every possession he's impossible to guard," Hoiberg said. "When you're able to put your hand underneath the ball and take two or three steps and put it back down, it's impossible to guard him in those situations."

Thomas agreed he is just about impossible to defend, saying "not one man can guard me." For that, he credited his teammates and coaches for putting him in position to succeed.

As for Hoiberg's comment?

"That's not the reason why I'm impossible to cover," Thomas said. "I've been dribbling that way my whole life."

GETTING HEATED

The Celtics led 41-21 early in the second quarter. But the game started to turn after Canaan stole the ball from Marcus Smart and scored on a layup.

Smart feigned throwing the ball at Butler. The two came nose to nose, resulting in technical fouls for both players, and the Bulls started to shoot their way back into it.

"He's a great actor, acting tough," Butler said. "That's what he does but I don't think he's about that. I'm the wrong guy to get in my face. Take it somewhere else."

He added: "That's the first time, the last time too. We're not gonna sit here and get in each other's faces, he's not about that life."

RONDO FINED

The NBA fined Rondo for attempting to trip Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder from the bench in Game 3. Crowder jawed at the Bulls' bench after hitting a jumper and Rondo extended his leg as Crowder walked by him.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Thomas was just 1 of 9 on 3-pointers but made 12 of 13 free throws.

Bulls: Butler made 19 of 23 foul shots after failing to get to the line in Game 3. ... Chicago was just 5 of 24 on 3-pointers even though Canaan - inactive for the first three games - nailed 3 of 7.

Horford, Thomas lead Celtics over Bulls 104-87 in Game 3

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) – The Boston Celtics got pep talks from a past champion as well as their current superstar. Then, they put a charge in a series that was slipping from their reach.

Al Horford had 18 points and eight rebounds, Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points, and the top-seeded Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 104-87 on Friday night after dropping the first two games of their opening-round series at home.

The Celtics pulled away after a 20-point lead shrunk to one early in the third quarter and put themselves in position to tie the series just as it was getting away from them. Game 4 is Sunday in Chicago.

They got a recorded message from Kevin Garnett before the game. Thomas, still grieving the death of his sister, had a few things to say, too.

"To me personally, it was everything," Jae Crowder said. "It was just a little motivation speech. (Garnett) said we looked like a team that wasn't having fun. We looked like a team that (wasn't) soaking in the moment. We just needed to play for one another, and play for the moment which is at hand being in the playoffs and have fun with it. He basically said put a little more KG into it."

Dwyane Wade scored 18 for Chicago. Jimmy Butler had 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting, and the offense simply didn't click the way it had been, with Rajon Rondo out indefinitely with a broken right thumb. Chicago shot about 39 percent and committed 18 turnovers.

"We're not going to put this all on missing Rondo because he might not show up," Wade said. "It sounds like he's going to be out for a while. We need to come out as a team and figure out how to be better."

Thomas rejoined the team after spending time with his family in Tacoma, Washington. He scored eight points in the third quarter, helping the Celtics regain control, and finished with nine assists in the game.

Crowder added 16 points. Avery Bradley scored 15 and hit four of Boston's 17 3-pointers.

"We weren't coming here hoping to get a win," Bradley said. "We knew we were coming here to win both games."

TIP-INS

Celtics: Coach Brad Stevens shook up the lineup looking for more shooting and athleticism. Gerald Green started over Amir Johnson and had eight points in 21 minutes. Johnson played six minutes. ... Boston hit 17 of 37 3s.

Bulls: The Bulls were 6 of 21 on 3-pointers. ... Chicago is 121-50 all-time in home playoff games. ... The Bulls own a 170-136 edge on the glass in the series after outrebounding Boston 52-37.

HANGING ON

The Celtics' lead was down to 44-43 early in the third when Thomas hit Horford for an alley-oop dunk and nailed back-to-back 3-pointers. Boston maintained a comfortable edge after that.

The Celtics led by 18 after hitting 7 of 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and were up 37-17 early in the second before the Bulls jumped back into it.

They had the crowd rocking in the closing minute of the half. Nikola Mirotic nailed a 3, cutting it to 44-41, and pointed toward the sky. Wade then blocked Bradley's 3, causing a shot-clock violation with 4.7 seconds left, before Butler missed a desperation 3 for Chicago as time expired.

"It's hard to maintain a lead in this league," Stevens said. "But also, to come into the locker room when they cut it to three and you know you've got to then step up and do it again - I thought that our guys really stayed the course."

NO RONDO

Rondo, who was injured in Game 2, will probably be re-evaluated in a week to 10 days. The Bulls said he won't need surgery.

He watched from the sideline and got in on the action to some extent late in the first quarter. Crowder jawed at the Bulls' bench after hitting a jumper and Rondo extended his leg as he walked by.

"When you tear an ACL, your leg gets stiff every once in a while," Rondo said. "I was stretching my leg out. I always do that throughout the game, I guess he was so deep in our bench, it looked like what may have happened, happened."

UP NEXT

Game 4 is Sunday in Chicago.

Bulls guard Rajon Rondo out indefinitely with broken thumb

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo is out indefinitely with a broken right thumb.

The team announced the injury on Friday, hours before the Bulls host the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Chicago won the first two games in Boston.

Chicago says Rondo injured his right hand in Game 2 and x-rays confirmed a thumb fracture. Surgery is not required but the team says he is out indefinitely

Rondo had 11 points and 14 assists in Game 2 as Chicago put the top-seeded Celtics in an 0-2 hole.

Bulls beat top-seeded Celtics 111-97 to take 2-0 series lead

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) -- The Chicago Bulls talked often during the regular season about believing they had the personnel to play as a physically imposing team.

Their output has caught up to those desires so far during the postseason.

Jimmy Butler scored 22 points, Rajon Rondo finished one rebound shy of a triple-double and the Bulls beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their series against the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

While some might be shocked by how Chicago has played as a No. 8 seed that was just 41-41, Butler made it clear he's not one of those folks.

"I'm not surprised because everybody's so locked in right now," said Butler, who added eight rebounds and eight assists.

Rondo had 11 points and 14 assists on a night when all five Bulls starters reached double figures. Dwyane Wade had 22 points, including 16 in the second half, and Robin Lopez added 18 points and eight points.

"Everybody's putting in each work, watching film, working on their game," Butler said. "That's where your confidence always comes from."

The Bulls host Game 3 on Friday.

After a better start by the Celtics, a familiar theme started to take hold as the Bulls took control by again dominating on the offensive glass. Chicago held a 43-38 rebounding edge for the game.

Isaiah Thomas scored 20 points for Boston.

Boston got within 91-82 early in the fourth before Chicago went on a 14-4 run to push its lead up to 19.

The Celtics did a much better job containing reserve Bobby Portis in Game 2 after he hurt them with 19 points off the bench in Game 1. But Paul Zipser picked up the slack in Game 2, scoring 16 points in 29 minutes.

After getting thoroughly pushed around underneath in Game 1, the Celtics grabbed the first four rebounds of the night while scoring the game's first seven points.

That changed quickly, though, as the Bulls responded with a 20-4 run. Boston's early rebounding edge evaporated just as fast, with all five Bulls starters grabbing an offensive rebound in the first six minutes of action.

Boston shot 46 percent for game, but too many times was just one-and-done in the half court.

Chicago again used its big men to push the Celtics out of the paint and was quicker to the ball in a lot of 50-50 situations. The Bulls outscored the Celtics in the paint 32-20 for the half.

"I feel like in the second half, the ball stopped moving. It wasn't moving at all," Celtics guard Avery Bradley said. "Even when we made a good play, got a steal, got an offensive rebound, we were just thinking quick 3s. As a polished team we have to know when to take those shots and when not to."

TIP-INS

Bulls: Nikola Mirotic finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. ... Chicago held a 14-9 edge in fast-break points and 14-12 advantage on second-chance points. ... Now hold a 22-rebound advantage through two games of the series.

Celtics: Finished with 16 turnovers, leading to 23 Chicago points. ...Thomas shot 7 of 13 from the free throw line. .... Scored 46 points in the first half of both Games 1 and 2. ... Have failed to score 100 points in three of their last four postseason games dating back to last year.

FINDING THEMSELVES

Wade said the Bulls' performance so far in this series is a testament to how much they've grown.

"You play the 82 games to learn a little bit about yourself," he said. "One thing I learned about this team is through adverse situations, this team sticks together."

NO EXCUSES

Thomas did not speak to the media afterward and will now head to Tacoma, Washington to be with his family to finalize funeral arrangements for his sister, Chyna Thomas. But Bradley said while the team continues to grieve for him, it can't be a distraction when they are on the court.

"We have to play hard no matter what," Bradley said. "You go through a lot throughout a season. You're going to face a lot of adversity. The best teams overcome any type of adversity."

GAME 2 BLUES

Boston fell to just 14-4 in Game 2 at home following a loss in Game 1. Chicago's win also snapped the Celtics' six-game winning streak in such games.

UP NEXT

The series shifts to Chicago on Friday night for Game 3.

Bulls top Celtics 106-102; Thomas plays after sister's death

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) – The Chicago Bulls waited until the final night of the regular season to cement their spot in the postseason. Jimmy Butler made sure the wait for a playoff victory was a short one.

Butler had 30 points and nine rebounds and the Bulls outlasted top-seeded Boston 106-102 in Game 1 on Sunday on an emotional night for grieving Celtics star Isaiah Thomas.

Playing a day after 22-year-old sister Chyna Thomas was killed in a car accident in their home state of Washington, Thomas led the Celtics with 33 points. But Butler overcame a united Garden crowd and led Chicago to the victory, scoring 23 points in the second half.

"We were so locked in all week," Butler said. "We knew their stuff, just like they knew ours. But we executed extremely well. We haven't done that all season, but this is the right time to do it."

He also got a big lift from the Bulls' young reserves, who outscored their Boston counterparts 35-22.

Bobby Portis finished with 19 for the Bulls.

Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg lauded his team's defensive effort, particularly how it outrebounded Boston 53-36. He also had praise for the job Butler did defending Thomas late, after Rajon Rondo picked up his fifth foul.

"Jimmy is obviously our best defender," he said. "Jimmy is going to have his turn to guard him."

Rondo said they wanted to be aggressive.

"I told the guys coming out it was going to be physical and we wanted to throw the first punch," he said.

Al Horford had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Celtics. He was active throughout, coming up with several big baskets and assists to keep his team in the game.

Game 2 in the first-round series is Tuesday night in Boston.

Neither team had more than a two-possession lead until Butler made three free throws with 4 minutes to play to make it 95-88. Butler scored 10 straight points to put the Bulls back in front early in the fourth, the first of three lead changes in the fourth quarter.

Later, Thomas had a scary moment when he was hit on his left hand on a 3-point attempt before landing awkwardly on it. After a quick visit to the trainer, he calmly made all three free throws.

It was part of a stretch in which he scored seven straight points.

Celtics fans rallied behind Thomas, showering him with a deafening cheer when he was introduced.

Still, Thomas appeared to be a little emotional at the start of the game, badly missing his first free throw short off the front rim. He wasn't the only Boston player a little off their game in the first half. Boston's second unit started the second quarter 1 for 7 from the field and was outscored 10-0 to surrender the Celtics' first-quarter lead.

The Bulls also had their moments of fallibility.

Late in the second quarter Wade intercepted an errant pass by Thomas, but got hung on the front of the rim as he attempted a dunk on the fast break.

Horford acknowledged afterward that emotions were tough for not just Thomas, but the entire team.

"We're never going to make excuses, but this is hard," Horford said. "This was difficult, and I felt like our guys really dealt with it best. We knew (Thomas) was hurting...we have a lot of respect for him that he was able to come out."

TIP-INS

Bulls: Outrebounded the Celtics 32-16 in the first half, including 16 offensive rebounds.

Celtics: Thomas recorded his second career 30-point game in the postseason. He had 42 against the Hawks last season. ... Horford has now scored in double figures in each of his last six postseason games. ... Were 18 for 45 from the field in the first half.

PIVOTAL STRETCH

The Celtics took an 88-87 lead with 5:33 to go, before the Bulls went on a 14-4 run to push back in front. Boston got within two on a layup by Thomas with 7.5 seconds following a Chicago turnover, but Butler hit a pair of free throws to seal it.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

The Celtics held a pregame moment of silence for Thomas' sister, part of an emotional pregame introduction for him. He looked toward the Garden rafters just before tip-off and wrote several messages to his sister on his sneakers. Visible were "Chyna," "RIP Lil Sis" and "I love you."

During the team's pregame shootaround TNT's cameras captured him being consoled on the bench by teammate Avery Bradley.

Butler has triple-double, fuels Bulls past 76ers 102-90

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Dwyane Wade was declared finished for the season around the time Chicago's season was all but over.

The Bulls rallied back and have the postseason in sight - just like Wade.

Jimmy Butler had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and helped give Chicago's playoff hopes a needed boost in the Bulls' 102-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.

The Bulls and Indiana both won to improve to 39-40, and Miami (38-40) had the night off in the chase for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

"I know where I want to take this team," Butler said.

He should have some help over the next three games.

Rajon Rondo sat out with a sprained right wrist and Wade missed another game with a fractured right elbow. Wade, who scrimmaged on Wednesday for the first time since he was injured on March 15, could return as early as Saturday's game at Brooklyn. Wade, who averaged 18.6 points in his first season with his hometown team, had been ruled out for the season. But Wade was worked hard at joining the team minus any serious setbacks.

"We're not quite there yet," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We'll practice (Friday) and hopefully get him through another good, solid contact practice. Hope we'll get him back in the lineup here soon."

Rondo was hurt Tuesday night in a loss to New York and had his wrist packed in ice in Chicago's locker room after beating the Sixers. He's considered day-to-day.

With Rondo and Wade sidelined, the Bulls still cruised against the lowly Sixers. Jerian Grant scored 15 points starting for Rondo, Nikola Mirotic scored 22 and the Bulls took a 14-point lead in the first half.

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot led the Sixers with 18 points.

The Bulls wasted a major opportunity when they lost to New York and could not afford a second straight road defeat to an Eastern Conference also-ran. The Bulls, who hold a tiebreaker over the Heat and the Pacers, improved to 7-4 since they lost Wade.

The Sixers gave up 141 points Tuesday against Brooklyn and their defense was only slightly better against the Bulls.

"There was a stage I felt like we were getting back in it," coach Brett Brown said. "You look at the results defensively, I'm fine with all of that."

The Bulls seemed on the brink of missing the postseason for a second straight year just a few weeks ago. Mirotic hit his fifth 3 of the game late in the fourth to make it 97-82 and the Bulls firmed up a playoff spot with two key cogs set to return. Butler earned his 10th assist on Mirotic's sixth three to clinch his fourth career triple-double.

"On the last one, Niko's like, `yo, you need one more.' I was like, `you don't think I know that,'" Butler asked. "He says, `throw it to me and I'll shoot it.' Say no more."

Mirotic buried the 3 and Butler broke into a wide smile.

TIP-INS

Bulls: Chicago has won 13 of 14 against the Sixers. ... The Bulls have defeated the Sixers seven straight times in Philadelphia. ... Michael Carter-Williams, 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year with the 76ers, received mostly boos when he checked in off the bench.

76ers: Brown brought his parents to the game. Brown's father, Bob Brown, was a standout high school and college coach for years in New England. But it's mom, Bonny Brown, who might be the family's biggest hoops junkie. "My mom is addicted, my mom watches more than dad," Brown said. "The best Christmas gift I give them is League Pass." ... Robert Covington (knee), Jahlil Okafor (knee) and Sergio Rodriguez (hamstring) all sat out. ... The Sixers' 10-5 mark in January (which matched last season's total wins) was just a mirage and they crashed down the stretch.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Chicago's Bobby Portis had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Philadelphia's Richaun Holmes had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT:

Chicago plays Saturday at Brooklyn and play its two final games at home.

The Sixers finish their home slate Saturday against Milwaukee and Monday against Indiana.

Bulls continue playoff push with visit to Knicks

Stats, LLC

NEW YORK -- The Chicago Bulls are surging back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture just in time to face a favorable schedule.

Chicago will play the first of its five remaining games against non-playoff teams Tuesday night when it visits the New York Knicks.

The Bulls (38-39) are on a four-game winning streak and are 7-4 in their last 11 games since dropping five straight from March 4-12. The surge has moved the Bulls into seventh place in the East and two games behind the fifth-place Milwaukee Bucks.

After facing the Knicks, Chicago visits Philadelphia and Brooklyn before returning for home games against Orlando and Brooklyn.

"We just continue to talk about this with our team -- we'll just worry about ourselves," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg. "Every day we have to get in the gym, get in the film room, continue to learn and continue to make positive strides forward as a basketball team."

Jimmy Butler is coming off two straight 30-plus point performances. He was named Player of the Week in the Eastern Conference on Monday. He averaged 32.5 points (second in the East) and 6.0 assists in three games.

In Sunday's 117-110 win at New Orleans, Butler scored 25 of his game-high 39 points in the first half and logging a team-high 39 minutes. He did so after scoring 25 points in the second half of a two-point win over Atlanta on Saturday.

"Yeah, I'm dialed in," Butler said. "I think I'm rolling and playing well and doing what my team needs me to do, and we're winning, so at the end of the day, that's all that matters."

Chicago is peaking at the right time.

Rajon Rondo has performed well since filling in for Dwyane Wade, who is out with a dislocated elbow. In the nine games without Wade, he is averaging 11.6 points, 8.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds. The Bulls are averaging 108.6 points in Wade's absence, compared to 101.8 points before his injury.

The Knicks (29-48) will be playing their third game since officially being eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday. The Knicks are coming off an 110-94 loss to the Boston Celtics Sunday.

Carmelo Anthony did not play as he missed a second straight game with a sore back. He plans to return Tuesday but spent Monday talking about his future, which might with another team after he meets with management next week.

"The chips will be on the table," Anthony told reporters Monday. "The chips will be on the table in that meeting. I mean I don't know what to expect but I've got a good feeling. Chips will be on the table."

The Knicks will be without former Bulls Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah

Rose was shut down last week after finding out he needs surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He averaged 18 points and 4.4 assists in 64 games, two less than he played last season with the Bulls, who traded him in June for Robin Lopez and Jerian Grant.

"I feel bad for him (Rose)," Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis said. "I know hard he worked throughout the season to maintain the shape that he has and makes sure he avoids all those injuries as much as he can. To see that happen to him right now at the end of the season is tough.

Noah, a free agent signing, was more of a disappointment and is serving the fourth contest of a 20-game suspension for using a banned substance. The New York City native couldn't stay healthy, appearing in only 46 games, averaging five points and 8.7 rebounds.

Rose and Noah were in the starting lineup together for just 39 games and none since Jan. 27.

Since the 2000-01 season, the Knicks have won just one playoff series, which is tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for the fewest among any NBA franchise.

New York has won the first two meetings with Chicago. The Knicks recorded a 117-104 win in Chicago on Nov. 4 and posted a 104-89 win Jan. 12 in New York.

Butler scores 33, Bulls beat Hawks 106-104

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) Jimmy Butler saw confidence and swagger, a team embracing the moment. No one welcomed it more with open arms than he did.

Butler scored 33 points and hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds left to lift the Chicago Bulls to a 106-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

"I see guys doing what they're supposed to be doing - playing hard, shooting the ball when they're open, not trying to do too much," Butler said. "That's what we need."

Butler scored the Bulls' final nine points. His free throws gave them a two-point lead and capped a 15-4 run.

Tim Hardaway Jr. then missed a 3-pointer for Atlanta as time expired, giving the Bulls their third straight win.

Chicago also moved into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are tied with Miami and Indiana at 37-39 but own tiebreakers over the Heat and Pacers. Sixth-place Atlanta (39-37) - which had won two straight after dropping seven in a row - trails Milwaukee by a game.

Rajon Rondo had a season-high 25 points and added 11 rebounds. Denzel Valentine scored 13 points, hitting two 3-pointers down the stretch to help the Bulls stop a seven-game losing streak to Atlanta.

The win comes on the heels of a victory over LeBron James and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

"We had a great win a couple of days ago, but it means nothing if we came out and laid an egg tonight," Rondo said. "Also, these guys have beaten us seven straight times."

Dennis Schroder led the Hawks with 29 points. Hardaway scored 20, and Dwight Howard finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

"They responded well and you have to give them credit," Schroder said. "We've got to execute better in crunch time and just do a better job, screening, rolling to the basket and taking care of the ball."

TIP-INS

Hawks: All-Star F Paul Millsap missed his eighth consecutive game because of a left knee ailment. Coach Mike Budenholzer said Millsap is "making positive progress," though the Hawks are being "aggressively cautious" with him. If Millsap misses Sunday's game at Brooklyn, he will have three more days before the Hawks host Boston on Thursday. ... F Mike Dunleavy Jr. played 12 minutes but did not score after missing a game because of a sore right ankle, while F Thabo Sefolosha (strained right groin) sat out his fourth in a row. G Malcolm Delaney sat out with back spasms.

Bulls: Butler was 10 of 10 at the foul line. ... The Bulls hit 12 3-pointers, their sixth straight game with at least 10.

FINAL PUSH

The Bulls trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter and were down 100-91 with less than five minutes to go.

Valentine hit a pair of 3-pointers to start the game-ending run, and Butler took over from there. He tied it at 102-all when he connected from long range with 1:59 left.

Schroder pulled up for the go-ahead jumper after Butler's baseline shot hit the front of the rim to give the Hawks a 104-102 lead with 35 seconds left. Butler immediately answered with a driving layup to tie it again.

After a timeout, Schroder lost his dribble out of bounds with 25 seconds left. Butler then got fouled by Kent Bazemore as he attempted a jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining and hit both free throws as the crowd chanted "MVP! MVP!"

Hardaway's 3 after a timeout then hit the back of the rim as time expired.

"I should have pump-faked," Hardaway said. "Two seconds left, I think that's an easy pump-fake, one-dribble shot. I think I had time. But it felt great coming off my hands. It felt great. It was in line. It just was a little bit long."

UP NEXT

Hawks: Visit Brooklyn on Sunday.

Bulls: Visit New Orleans on Sunday.

Bulls top Cavs 99-93, James moves to 7th on NBA scoring list

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers just might be at their lowest point since the King came home three years ago. Either way, they'll have to do better than this if they're going to be crowned again.

Nikola Mirotic tied season highs with 28 points and six 3-pointers, Jimmy Butler scored 25, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Cavaliers 99-93 Thursday on a night when James moved into seventh place on the NBA's career scoring list.

James passed Shaquille O'Neal, finishing with 26 points. That gave him 28,599 for his career - three more than O'Neal. But the big night by the four-time MVP couldn't prevent the Cavaliers from matching a season high with their third straight loss.

That dropped the defending champions a half-game behind Boston for the Eastern Conference lead and left them with a 6-10 record in March.

"Just in a bad spot right now," said James, who had 10 rebounds and eight assists. "I'm not disappointed with the effort. Just in a bad spot. We need to figure it out."

For Mirotic, it was his second straight game with 28 points and six 3s. He also had 10 rebounds, finishing a strong March.

"I feel it's my time now. It's never too late," he said. "It's a very important moment for the team."

Rajon Rondo added 15 assists, Robin Lopez had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and the ninth-place Bulls moved within a game of Miami and Indiana in the Eastern Conference standings.

They also finished 4-0 against Cleveland to complete their first sweep of the Cavaliers since they took all three games during the 2011-12 season.

Kyrie Irving scored 20 for the Cavaliers, while Tristan Thompson added 15 points and nine rebounds. But the Bulls dominated Cleveland 37-21 in the third quarter to wipe out a nine-point halftime lead and hung on down the stretch.

"We won't be perfect in one day," Irving said. "But it's no time to hold your head, I'll tell you that. ... We're gonna be just fine. It's ugly right now. It's real, real ugly."

James entered needing 23 points to tie O'Neal and matched him when he scored on a layup with 7:29 left in the game. He took sole possession of seventh place when he hit one of three free throws to make it 90-83 with 4:28 remaining.

But it was not an easy night for the Cavaliers.

Kevin Love fouled out with eight points and 10 rebounds when he got whistled on a basket by Butler moments after James tied O'Neal.

Rondo was able to get into the paint, particularly in the third quarter. That didn't hurt Butler or Mirotic, who was connecting all game.

"I definitely want to get back into the playoffs, and these young guys haven't experienced it," Rondo said. "I'm trying to push every day to find a way to get in. We can't worry about other teams winning and losing. We need to go out every night and win these next seven to put ourselves in a position to get in."

SURGING

Mirotic became the first Bulls player to hit six or more 3-pointers in back-to-back games. He is averaging 24.8 points over his past four games and has 20 3s in that span.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: G Iman Shumpert had four points and an assist in 22 minutes after missing two games because of a sore right knee. ... F Kyle Korver missed his second consecutive game because of a sore left foot. He has not been practicing and is expected to sit out Friday's game against Philadelphia before being re-evaluated. ... F Richard Jefferson sat out because of tendinitis in his left knee.

Bulls: F Cristiano Felicio was available but did not play after missing the previous three games because of a bruised lower back.

UP NEXT

Cavaliers: Host Philadelphia on Friday to start a three-game homestand.

Bulls: Host Atlanta on Saturday.

Cavaliers-Bulls Preview

Stats, LLC

CHICAGO -- As the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare to begin their postseason defense of last season's NBA championship, keeping players fresh will be a top priority for Tyronn Lue.

The Cavaliers enter Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bulls having lost four of their last six games, and they are 6-9 this month. But, as Cleveland approaches the end of the season, Lue has made it clear the big picture -- not the short term -- will be the focus.

After Cleveland's 103-74 loss to San Antonio on Monday night, Lue told reporters he was considering resting key players for large chunks of time over Cleveland's final nine games.

But that will apparently start after Thursday's test against the Bulls, who are a win away from sweeping the season series. According to Cleveland.com, Lue plans to play his full contingent of stars against the Bulls. The lone exception is Kyle Korver, who will miss Thursday's game in Chicago and Sunday's game against the 76ers because of an injury to his left foot.

Guard Iman Shumpert is expected to return Thursday after missing the previous two games with right knee soreness. Forward Richard Jefferson did not practice Wednesday with knee tendinitis, Cleveland.com reported.

While LeBron James, who left Monday's game with back stiffness, and Cleveland's other mainstays are expected to be on the floor against the Bulls, Lue said that may not be the case in the days following.

"I'm going to do what's best for the team and each individual," Lue told reporters on Wednesday, according to Cleveland.com. "We've got a lot of games coming up and we've got to get some kind of rhythm established going into the playoffs.

"It's going to be a game-to-game basis, just seeing how guys feel. If they need (rest), if it's the best thing for us, then we have to do it."

While the Cavaliers are preparing for another long playoff run, the Bulls are hoping to just be in the conversation.

The Bulls (35-39) have struggled over their last 10 games and continue to not play well against other underperforming teams. While Chicago has been perfect against Cleveland this season, the Bulls must find a way to match those kind of efforts the rest of the way if they hope to avoid missing the playoffs for a second straight season. They sit 1 1/2 games out of a playoff spot after the Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers fell to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

While Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg admits to doing a certain amount of scoreboard watching in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff picture, he said his team must ultimately take care of its business.

"You do keep an eye on what other teams are doing," Hoiberg said, according to CSN Chicago. "But, at the same time, we talk every day how it's up to us. We've got to go out and play with purpose, play with energy every time we step on the floor and give ourselves a chance to win. Hopefully, if we do those things, we'll be there at the end."

Veteran guard Rajon Rondo, who has taken on a bigger role since Dwyane Wade left the lineup with an elbow injury, has made it clear that the Bulls can't afford to waste time.

"I just try to look at what we're doing and control what we can control," Rondo said, according to CSN Chicago. "We're not playing against the other teams we're racing (to get into the playoffs), so we've got eight (games) left and we want to take advantage of all eight."

Butler did it: Bulls pulls away for 109-94 win over Bucks

By GENARO C. ARMAS
Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) Jimmy Butler rarely passed up opportunities to share the ball. Nikola Mirotic took advantage of his open shots.

Inspired by unselfish play, the Chicago Bulls pulled away in the second half for a 109-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Mirotic tied a season high with 28 points, while Butler had 20 points and a career-high 14 assists. It was the third straight game with double-digit assists for Butler, who is also Chicago's leading scorer (23.6 points).

"My mantra is always to pass the ball to the open guy whether it's late game, early game," Butler said.

Chicago has won two of three games, with Butler reaching double-digit assists and Mirotic scoring 28 in each victory. Against Milwaukee, Mirotic was the beneficiary of open looks with Butler and Rajon Rondo (nine assists) drawing defenders on drives into the lane.

"I just don't think we trusted our defense tonight like we should have," Milwaukee forward Khris Middleton said. Butler and Rondo "did a great job of collapsing our defense and finding guys."

It's an ideal formula for the Bulls to stay in the playoff picture with eight games left in the regular season.

Chicago was tied with Detroit coming into the day, 1 1/2 games behind Miami for the final playoff spot. The Bulls also finished the season series against Milwaukee at 1-3 this season, avoiding a sweep to their Central Division rival.

Coach Fred Hoiberg hopes his team can build off this win with games coming up against defending champion Cleveland and another playoff hopeful, Atlanta. The Bulls also outrebounded Milwaukee 49-34.

"We've got to understand what makes us successful," Hoiberg said. "When we're committed to moving the ball like we did today ... trying to put them in spots on the floor where they're maybe not as successful and when we rebound."

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Bucks.

TIP-INS

Bulls: Chicago had a 23-10 run over the final 8:29 of the second quarter to take a 56-55 lead at halftime. Playing crisp offense, the Bulls shot 59 percent and assisted on 20 of 25 buckets in the first half. ... All five starters finished the game scoring in double figures.

Bucks: C John Henson (sprained left thumb) could be out another week after getting hurt on Tuesday in Portland. ... Middleton, who went just 1 of 13 from the field in Friday's win over Atlanta, was 6 of 17 against Chicago and finished with 14 points.

PLAYOFF POSITIONING

Milwaukee failed to secure sole possession of fifth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race after being tied with Atlanta going into Sunday. The Hawks lost earlier in the day to the Brooklyn Nets.

The Bucks shot 4 of 19 (21 percent) in the fourth quarter.

"We had struggles there moving the ball, and we thought one person could do it. That's not the way we play," coach Jason Kidd said. "On defense, we're just a step behind."

BUTLER DOES IT

Butler had his milestone day at the Bradley Center, the arena in which he played his home games in college at Marquette.

He broke his previous career best for assists (12) by the end of a pivotal third quarter, when Chicago stretched a one-point lead at the half to 91-79 going into the fourth.

Butler punctuated the second-half runaway with a backcourt steal off a telegraphed pass by Greg Monroe before strolling the other way for an easy dunk and 17-point lead with 8:55 left.

"If I'm not making shots, then I've got to go down there and change the game on the defensive end," said Butler, who finished 8 of 13 from the field. "If I'm making shots, I still got to go down there and guard or make the right pass."

Mirotic hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter, while Rondo scored 14 of his 18 points in that period.

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Bulls: Try to sweep the season series against Cleveland when they host the Cavaliers on Thursday.

Bucks: Begin a two-game road trip by visiting the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.